Agitator for removing chaff from roasted coffee



May 29, 1956 H. SCHMID ETAL 2,747,495

AGITATOR FOR REMOVING CHAFF FROM ROASTED COFFEE Original Filed Dec. 16,1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS %rmaz7 JE/zmid NEY May 29, 1956 scHMlDHAL 2,747,496

AGITATOR FOR REMOVING CHAFF FROM ROASTED COFFEE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed Dec. 16, 1949 FIG.2

rllllllrll INVENTORS 1 -v ermazz JE/zmz'd JVZbQrL [b /05:25]: 7% 5ATTORN United States Patent AGITATGR F 012 REMOVING CHAFF FROM ROASTEDCOFFEE Herman Schmid and Albert P. Hobush, Kingston, N. Y., assignors toEncore, Inc., Kingston, N. Y., a corporation of New York Originalapplication December 16, 1949, Serial No. 133,427, now Patent No.2,700,225, dated January 25, 1955. Divided and this application August21, 1951, Serial No. 242,852

9 Claims. (Cl. 99-236) We have invented an improvement in machines forroasting cofiee preparatory to grinding; and especially an attachmentfor such a machine to separate the chaff and ventilate the part of themachine in which the roasted coffee is deposited for removal.

Our roasting machine is to be used in connection with the retaildistribution of coffee and operates upon green coffee in stock; roastingit in the required quantities from time to time, or on each sale, hencea dealer is able to supply perfectly fresh roasted coffee to individualpurchasers.

An important object is to provide a coitee roasting machine havingadjacent the roasting member a casing containing means for agitating andshifting the roasted cofiee beans, to cool them and remove chafif beforedelivering the roasted coffee to a storage receptacle in the casing.

Another object is to provide a coffee roasting machine having anattachment for ventilating and cooling the roasted coffee beans as theyare discharged into a storage receptacle.

The nature of the invention is fully described hereinafter and thepreferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. But this disclosure is explanatory only, and we may varydetails of construction without departing from the principle of themachine.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a coffee roaster according to our invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section in a plane passing from sideto side through the middle of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the agitator member in the apparatuswith the rear cover plate removed, in the plane of line 33 on Figure 2.

' Figure 4 is a section of a detail.

Figure 5 is a section showing a conveyor to transfer roasted coifee to abin to be withdrawn for grinding; and

Figure 6 shows the cooling means for the agitator member.

This application is a division of our application for patent on a coffeeroasting machine, Serial No. 133,427, filed December 16, 1949, saidapplication has now matured into Patent No. 2,700,225, granted January25, 1955.

The roaster and its adjuncts comprise a housing 1 consisting of separatesections. The cofiee is roasted in 'a heater consisting of a chamberenclosing a rotating cylinder 2. At the top of the housing is a bin orhopper 3 for the green coffee beans, which are transferred to theheater; and afterwards piled in the base or lower part 4 of the roaster;from which they are lifted by a suitable conveyor, to be ground in acasing or section 5. The feeding of the green coffee from the bin 3 tothe roasting cylinder 2 is regulated by a measuring drum 6; and theadmission of the unroasted beans to the cylinder 2 iscontrolled by achute 7, which automatically assumes "ice loading and discharge positionat the beginning and end of each roasting cycle. When the contents ofthe cylinder 2 have been treated as required they are delivered to arotatable agitator 8 in a casing 9 on the housing 1, and finally droppedthrough a conduit 10 into the base section 4, which contains an inclinedplate 11 which directs the roasted beans into a receptacle, to whichaccess can be had by a gate12. The gate is hinged at the bottom to theedge of an opening in the base, so that the coffee therein can bescooped out if desired.

The conveyor for lifting the roasted coffee from the receptacle or binto the grinding apparatus is indicated at 13, in Figure 1; this conveyorbeing of the screw type in a tubular casing 14; and to the casing 9 ofthe agitator is connected a conduit 15, through which the chaff or huskscovering the roasted beans are discharged into a removable drawer 16 atthe bottom of the roaster. The vapors of the coffee when being roastedare drawn ofi through a flue 17 into a casing 18 containing amotor-driven fan 19; and conducted away to the base section 4 through aflue 24 The flue 17 of course leads from the heating chamber, connectedto the housing adjacent the chute 7. The portion of the section 4through which the flue 20 delivers, is enclosed and contains filters2i); through which the vapors of the roasted coffee pass and aredeodorized. They are then allowed to escape from the bottom of the spacein the housing con taining the filters, as set forth in our Patent No.2,700,225, above-mentioned.

The hopper 3 for the green coffee has a sloping bottom 21 with adelivery opening at one side to register with a pocket or chamber 22 inthe measuring and loading drum 6, that is just above the roastingcylinder 2. This drum is mounted to turn on a stud or journal 23, in aprojection or foot bearing 24 in the housing. This bearing is part of afixed horizontal transverse partition 25 in the housing over thecylinder 2. The chamber 22 is open at the upper and lower end, and afterreceiving coffee from the bin or hopper 3, it turns and discharges thegreen coifee beans through an outlet 26 in the partition 25. The top ofthe drum 6 is closed except for the pocket 22, and at the bottom thereofare external gear teeth 27 extending entirely around the circumferencethereof to be engaged by a pivoted pawl at the end of a rocking leverfor effecting rotation of the drum as required.

Adjacent one end of the cylinder 2, the wall of the housing has a largeopening 28, and over this opening lies the closure plate 29 for theinner end of the casing 9. This plate has a hollow boss 30 in the centerwhich bears the hub 31 of a gear 32 fixed to the chute 7. The casing 9has a central bearing 33 in the outer end supporting one end of a stubshaft 34 upon which the agita tor is mounted. This shaft has keyedconnection with the end of the shaft 35 carrying the roasting cylinder 2and its adjacent end is within the hub 31 and bearing 30. At the side ofthe plate 29 is an arc-shaped opening 36 in the housing extending from apoint about the level of the shaft 35 down past a point directly belowit. The plate 29 carries the bearing 30 at the center. The chute 7 isrotatable and the free end of the chute 7 as it turns, discharges thecontents of the cylinder through it into the casing 9 when the roastingis finished. The plate 29 has a conical rim 37 about the lower edge ofthe opening 36 into the housing towards the cylinder 2.

The end of the cylinder 2 adjacent the chute '7 has an open spider 38through which it discharges. This spider is covered by the chute '7 inthe position shown on Figure 2 when the cylinder 2 is loading. When thedrum 6 revolves it fills with green coffee from the hopper 3, the coffeedropping into the pocket 22 at each revolution; and the coffee isdischarged as the drum rotates the outlet 26 to fill the cylinder 2 andthen makes a part turn to. its lowermost position to guide the roastcoffee from the cylinder 2 into the casing 9 through the opening 36. Theconnecting members are fully disclosed in our prior applicationaforesaid and are not comprised in the invention of this case.

The opposite end of the shaft 35 is enveloped by a sleeve 39, to whichthe shaft has key or clutch connection. The sleeve will therefore turnthe shaft but the shaft can be detached from the sleeve like the stubshaft 34.

The end of the cylinder 2 adjacent the sleeve 39 is closed by aflanged-over metal disk or plate 40, and the sleeve 39 is mounted in asuitable bushing or hearing in the adjacent wall of the housing. Thecylindrical wall of the cylinder 2 is made of heat resistant materialand the plate 40 has a dished central part through which the shaft 35passes. The shaft 35 has a spring washer and nut indicated at 41 betweenthe sleeve 39 and the disk 40 to press against the disk and hold it inplace on the cylinder 2.

The spider 38 is fixed to the shaft 35 at the end of the cylinderadjacent the chute 7. When the casing .9 is dismounted, the stub shaft34 can be removed with it, andwhen the plate 29 is taken off thehousing, the cylinder 2 can be pulled out through the opening 28. Themain part of the shaft 35 then comes out with the cylinder, being pulledout of the sleeve 39 which can remain in place, but can also be takenout when necessary.

The outer end of the sleeve 39 carries a gear 42, which is turned by agear 43 on a shaft 44, mounted in a bearing in the wall of thehousing 1. On the outer end of this shaft is a pulley 45, which isrotated by a belt 46. This belt is operated by a pulley rotated by anelectric motor on the outside of the housing. Fixed to the outer end ofthe sleeve 39 to be rotated thereby is a cam 47 and mounted on thesleeve 38 and shaft 44 so as'not to interfere with the rotation ofeither is a metal plate 48 with insulated binding posts cooperating withcontact rings on the cam 47 to form part of electric circuits whichoperate and control the machine. All these members and the mode ofoperation are fully disclosed in our aforesaid parent application SerialNo. 133,427.

In the sloping bottom 21 of the hopper is an opening 48 which is coveredby a flexible diaphragm 49. At the center of this diaphragm is a fixedbutton terminal 50 which cooperates with a movable switch terminal 51 onthe lower face ofthe bottom 21. Both terminals are in circuit with themotor that rotates the pulley 45. When the hopper contains more than aminimum quantity of coffee, the swtich terminals 50 and 51 are closed bythe Weight of the required quantity of green coffee in the bin 3, butwhen this quantity is not present, the terminals aforesaid separate andthe operation of the roaster stops.

The front of the section has a knob 52 above an opening 53 in whichthere is a platform scale 54. This section contains the grindingmechanism and a 'motor to operate it, and the adjacent side bears switch55 and an ordinary wall outlet, not shown, for the prongs of a plug thatis attached to a cord conductor so that electric current may flow toenergize the motor inside. The knob enables the operator to adjust forgrinding the roasted coffee in several ways. This grinding mechanism isfully disclosed and defined in our copending application for a separatepatent thereon, Serial No. 133,427, filed December 16, 1949. a

The inside of the housing 1 containing the cylinder 2 constitutes aroasting chamber enveloping the cylinder 2. See Figure 2. One end ofthis is substantially closed adjacent the casing 9 by a partition 56 ofheat insulating material. The top, bottom, sides and opposite end ofthis roasting chamber are of similar material, as indicated at 57. Oneor more heating lamps are mounted at the bottom of this chamberandseveral resistance heaters 58 and a thermostat 59 are mounted in theroasting cylinder'2. The partition 57 has an opening at the topreceiving the end 38 of the cylinder 2.

..The agitator 8 comprises a hub 60 fast on the stub shaft 34, withradiating arms or spokes V61 aflixed to the hub, and carrying acircumferential ring or band 62. In the ring are openings 63 so that thering has a sifting action. The outer end 64 of the casing 9 having thebearing 38 has a circular groove 65 in its outer face, this groove beingtriangular in cross section to form a rib 66 on the iner face of thecasing 9. The uppermost part of the rib has an outlet opening 67 leadingto the delivery pipe 10, and the lowermost part of this rib has ascreened ventilator opening 68. In the bottom of the casing is adischarge opening 69 to which the flue 15 is coupled. The casing andplate 29 are attached to the housing by bolts 70.

The pipe 10 leading to the receptacle in the lower part 4 of the'housing1 is connected to a conduit 71 coupled to the casing 72 containing a fandriven by an electric motor. This motor is in circuit with the motorthat rotates the cylinder 2, and rotates the fan 72 to cool oif theroasted coffee beans delivered by the agitator to the pipe 10.

Instead of a screw conveyor 13, a chain conveyor 73 with cups 74, asshown in Figure 5, can be employed. This conveyor is operated by a shaft75 bearing a sprocket Wheel 76. On the shaft is a gear 77 in mesh with aworm gear on the shaft of an electric motor 78 controlled by a switch,so that it can be operated independently whenever coffee beans are to beelevated to the grinding apparatus in the section 5.

The construction and full operation of the entire roaster is fullydescribed in our aforesaid application Serial No. 133,427 and theinvention herein relates solely to the casing 8 and associated parts forcooling the roasted coffee and separating the chaff so that the roastedbeans are delivered in the proper condition to the conduit 10.

When the roasting is finished the chute 7 is swung to put the cylinderinto communication with the aperture 36 so that the contents of thecylinder 2 are transferred to the casing 8. The agitator whirls theroasted coffee around in the casing 9 so that the husks are broken andfall off; the husks being ground small and the particles passing throughthe perforations 63 and dropping into the conduit 15. The coffee beansflow in a steady stream through the outlet 67 through the conduit 10.

A guard rail may be afiixed to the upper part of the lower section 4 toprotect one or more sides of the housing of the apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we believe'to be new is:

1. Roasting apparatus comprising a housing, a roasting cylinder therein,an external fixed casing on one side of the housing in line with one endof the cylinder, a shaft in the housing for supporting said cylinder, ashort shaft in the casing detachably keyed to one end of the first namedshaft, an agitator member enclosed in the casing on said short shaft, asleeve in the housing receiving the other end of the first-named'shaftand having a detachable operative connection-therewith, a hearing in thehousing enveloping'said sleeve, and means on the sleeve to rotate thesleeve, the shafts, the cylinder and the agitator member. a

2. Coffee roasting apparatus comprising a housing a roasting membertherein, the housing having an opening at one side through which theroasting member delivers, a fixed casing attached to the'outside of thehousing and communicating with said opening, the casinghaving a hollowcircular rib in its outer end, a bearing for a shaft in said end, ashaft in said bearing, an agitator on said shaft, said agitator beingenclosed in said casing and having radiating arms and a perforatedsifting rim, the casing having an outlet opening for chaff in itsbottom, the rib having two sides inclined to said end, and a deliveryopening at its uppermost point, and a delivery conduit connected to thecasing at said outlet opening and extending down to the lower part ofsaid housing.

3. Coffee roasting apparatus comprising a housing, a roasting membertherein, the housing having an opening at one side through which theroasting member delivers, a fixed casing attached to the outside of thehousing and communicating with said opening, the casing having a hollowcircular rib in its outer end, a bearing for a shaft in said end, ashaft in said bearing, an agitator on said shaft, said agitator beingenclosed in said casing and having radiating arms and a perforatedsifting rim, the casing having an outlet opening for chaff in itsbottom, the rib having two sides inclined to said end, and a deliveryopening in one of its sides at its uppermost point, and a deliveryconduit connected to the casing at said delivery opening and extendingdown to the lower part of said housing, the apparatus also having amotor driven fan adjacent the lower part of the housing and a casing forthe fan connected to the conduit near the lower end thereof.

4. Cofiee roasting apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable roastingcylinder therein, the housing having an opening at one side adjacent thecylinder, :1 fixed casing secured to the outside of the housing oversaid opening, the inner end of the casing being open, a closure plateover said inner end having an opening communicating with part of thefirst-named opening, a hearing at the middle of the plate, the outer endof the casing being closed and having another bearing in line with thefirst bearing, a shaft supporting the cylinder and having one end in thebearing on said plate, a short shaft having one end in the other bearinghaving detachable keyed connection with the first-named shaft, anagitator on said short shaft enclosed in the casing and having radiatingarms and a perforated sifting rim, the casing having a delivery openingin the upper portion of its closed end, and a conduit joined to thecasing at said delivery opening leading to the lower portion of thehousing, said casing also having an outlet opening in its lower portion.

5. Coffee roasting apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable roastingcylinder therein, the housing having an opening at one side adjacent thecylinder, a fixed casing secured to the outside of the housing over saidopening, the inner end of the casing being open, a closure plate oversaid inner end having an opening communicating with part of thefirst-named opening, a hearing at the middle of the plate, the outer endof the casing being closed and having another bearing in line with thefirstnamed bearing, a shaft supporting the cylinder having one end inthe bearing on said plate, a short shaft having one end in the otherbearing having detachable keyed connection with the first-named shaft,an agitator on said short shaft having radiating arms and a perforatedsifting rim, the casing enclosed in the casing and having a deliveryopening in the upper portion of its closed end, and a conduit joined tothe casing at said delivery opening leading to the lower portion of thehousing, said casing also having an outlet opening in its lower portion,the apparatus also having a fan and casing in its lower portion and aconduit connecting said fan casing to the lower part of the deliveryconduit.

6. Coffee roasting apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable roastingcylinder therein, the housing having an opening at one side adjacent thecylinder, at fixed casing secured to the outside of the housing oversaid opening, the inner end of the casing being open, a closure plateover said inner end having an opening communicating with part of thefirst-named opening, a bearing at the middle of the plate, the outer endof the casing being closed and having another bearing in line with thefirstnamed bearing, a shaft supporting the cylinder having one end inthe bearing on said plate, a short shaft having one end in the otherbearing having detachable keyed connection with the first-named shaft,an agitator on said short shaft enclosed in the casing and havingradiating arms and a perforated sifting rim, the casing having adelivery opening in the upper portion of its closed end, and a conduitjoined to the casing at said delivery opening leading to the lowerportion of the housing, said casing also having an outlet opening in itslower portion, the outer end of the casing having a hollow rib with twosides inclined to said outer end encircling the secondnained bearing,the delivery opening being in one side of said rib at the uppermost partthereof.

7. Coffee roasting apparatus comprising a housing, a rotatable roastingcylinder therein, the housing having an opening at one side adjacent thecylinder, a fixed casing secured to the outside of the housing over saidopening, the inner end of the casing being open, a closure plate oversaid inner end having an opening communicaring with part ofthefirst-named opening, a hearing at the middle of the plate, the outerend of the casing being closed and having another bearing in line withthe firstnamed hearing, a shaft supporting the cylinder having one endin the bearing on said plate, a short shaft having one end in the otherbearing having detachable keyed connection with the first-named shaft,an agitator on said short shaft enclosed in the casing and havingradiating arms and a perforated sifting rim, the casing having adelivery opening in the upper portion of its closed end, and a conduitjoined to the casing at said delivery opening leading to the lowerportion of the housing, said casing also having an outlet opening in itslower portion, the outer end of the casing having a hollow rib with twosides inclined to said outer end encircling the secondnamed bearing, thedelivery opening being in one side of said rib at the uppermost partthereof, the apparatus also having a fan and casing in its lower portionand a conduit connecting said fan casing to the lower part of thedelivery conduit.

8. Cofiee roasting apparatus comprising a housing having a top sectioncontaining a hopper, an intermediate section containing a roastingcylinder, a lower section containing storage space, a feeding drumbetween the hopper and the cylinder, said intermediate section having acasing with an agitator at one side and an opening through which theroasting cylinder discharges into said casing, operating mechanism forthe cylinder at the opposite side of said intermediate section, saidcasing having a discharge conduit for roasted coffee and a dischargeconduit for husks, connecting it to the lower section, a flue for vaporsconnected to the intermediate section and the lower section to conductthe vapors in the roasting cylinder to the lower section, a fan in saidflue, a motor on said housing to operate said fan, and a filter in thelower section to which said flue delivers.

9. Roasting apparatus comprising an upright housing, a transverselydisposed rotatable cylinder in the housing, a shaft extending across thehousing carrying said cylinder, operating mechanism carried by thehousing at one end of said shaft, a casing supported by said housing inline with said cylinder, adjacent the opposite end of said shaft, arotatable agitator in the casing, said shaft having a detachable sectionon which the agitator is mounted in the casing, the housing having anopening in line with the casing, said shaft being detachably connectedto said mechanism, so that said casing, said agitator and said sectioncan be dismounted from the housing and disconnected from the shaft, andthe cylinder, when said opening is uncovered, withdrawn through saidopening I 1,668,529 irbm' thehou'sing. 2,415,307

References Cited in th file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5252,523 155,300 Grubb Sept. 22, 1874 304,181

Underwood Oct. 16, 1877

